by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 644 U.S. colleges awarded 18,457 degrees and certificates in Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 50% of graduates. College Factual ranks 337 schools in its 2027 Best Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $57,771 one year after completing, rising to $76,172 after four years.
A degree in Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping explores Accounting Technology/technician And Bookkeeping. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Provide Technical Administrative Support To Professional Accountants And Other Financial Management Personnel. Includes Instruction In Posting Transactions To Accounts, Record-Keeping Systems, Accounting Software Operation, And General Accounting Principles And Practices.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping is a popular field of study, with 18,457 degrees awarded annually. 644 colleges award accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping degrees, an average of 29 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 690.
By level, the 18,457 awards include 2,928 certificates, 5,667 associate degrees, 174 bachelor’s degrees and 9,201 master’s degrees.
Women earned 71% of accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping degrees and certificates in the latest year (13,137 of 18,457). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (8,124) and Hispanic or Latino (4,652), and international students earned 406.
College Factual ranks 337 schools in its 2027 Best Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping Schools ranking, including 220 for associate degrees and 18 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping schools within 30 states. In all, 644 colleges offer accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping credential is the master’s degree: 9,201 of the 18,457 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping call most for Reading Comprehension, Mathematics and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Mathematics and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Written Comprehension and Mathematical Reasoning.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 2,928 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5,667 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 174 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9,201 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping, at 35.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 25.5% |
| Some college courses | 12.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.6% |
| Master’s degree | 5.7% |
| First professional degree | 2.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 2.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.7% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping, with an average median salary of $60,875; the strongest outlook belongs to Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks, at 13.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Chart Changer, Chart Calculator, Wheelage Clerk and Chart Clerk.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping, at 1,690,967.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 1,690,967 | 13.5% |
| Statistical Assistants | 1,573,967 | 6.9% |
| Brokerage Clerks | 1,304,264 | 6.2% |
| Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks | 221,841 | -3.1% |
| Tax Preparers | 206,607 | 9.5% |
Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping graduates earn a median $57,771 one year after completing their program, $76,172 after four years and $71,293 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $57,771 |
| 4 years | $76,172 |
| 5 years | $71,293 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to accounting technology/technician and bookkeeping is Tax Preparers, with a median salary of $67,542.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Tax Preparers | $67,542 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $63,707 |
| Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks | $62,520 |
| Statistical Assistants | $58,190 |
| Brokerage Clerks | $52,416 |
Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping has 5 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 68,336 degrees a year; the largest are Accounting (62,166), Accounting and Finance (3,827) and Accounting and Business/Management (1,488). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Accounting | 62,166 |
| Accounting and Finance | 3,827 |
| Accounting and Business/Management | 1,488 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other | 646 |
| Auditing | 209 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
